Elena Rybakina surged past Elise Mertens to reach the fourth round of the 2024 French Open. But the Kazakh admitted that she is still suffering with health issues which pertain to her sleep and also allergies.
Rybakina is known to struggle at certain tournaments including Rome where she withdrew as defending champion with allergies and she was grilled by journalists about whether she is 100%.
She said that she has been struggling with certain issues, but that other than that which she can't control, she is 100% and ready to attack the rest of the French Open. Moving through at a similar time to fellow rival Aryna Sabalenka, she will be one of the favourites to challenge Iga Swiatek for the title over the next week.
Last year, she was in a great place form wise before illness struck with Covid affecting her until post Wimbledon. She has since had to withdraw from a lot of tournaments. But when she does play, she is there or thereabouts.
“How healthy are you right now? I mean, are you at 100% do you think in terms of your feeling, your preparations coming out of not being able to play Rome?" the journalist asked to Rybakina.
“Yes. I mean, I've been struggling a bit with sleep, some issues. So, of course, I had to skip tournaments. Also allergies and everything. Now I'm feeling pretty well and focused," responded the former Wimbledon champion.
She followed up by saying that she hasn't aimed to look into the issues. “I think everybody when they work a lot, it's not easy to sleep. Then the recovery is not the greatest...”
Continuing to be prodded about it, Rybakina said it was a general thing and that isn't just an issue in France. “Well, guys, I think everybody faces some issues. It can be anything. So I don't know what to answer more on that.”
It also represents a return to a press conference for Rybakina who was snubbed last time out by journalists with not a single one asking for her to be present inside the press conference room after she defeated Arantxa Rus.
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